Hauwa'u Adamu, also known as Maman Sadiq or Aunty Laraba, and her husband Sharhabil have been arrested by the Kurmin-Mashi Police Division in Kaduna State following the death of her 13-year-old son from a previous marriage, Sadiq. The incident occurred in the Kurmin-Mashi area on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, after the boy was allegedly subjected to severe corporal punishment on Monday night.
Sequence of events leading to the tragedy
According to reports, the ordeal began when the mother sent Sadiq to withdraw N5,000 from a Point of Sale (PoS) shop. However, it was alleged that Sadiq made two withdrawals but returned with only N5,000 cash to his mother. This prompted his stepfather, Sharhabil, to follow him back to the PoS operator, who reportedly confirmed that two withdrawals were indeed made by the late Sadiq.
Upon their return home, the mother and stepfather allegedly subjected the teenager to beatings for what they perceived as dishonesty. A female neighbor reported hearing the boy crying around 10 p.m. on Monday night. She intervened and pleaded with the couple to stop the punishment, but her pleas were ignored.
Intervention by local cleric fails
The neighbor then contacted a local Islamic cleric, who came to advise the couple and cautioned them against the severity of their actions. Despite his warnings, they did not relent. Eventually, everyone left, leaving the boy in that condition. Sadiq's death was confirmed on Tuesday morning.
According to Leadership newspaper, the Kurmin-Mashi Police Division took the boy's body to Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital (Dutse General Hospital) for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Meanwhile, Hauwa'u Adamu and her husband Sharhabil have been detained as investigations continue.
